Lauren is a highly accomplished litigation attorney at Verrill, providing strategic counsel and representation to private and public clients across all stages of litigation, including case initiation, discovery, trial preparation, and appeals. Lauren has more than a decade of experience representing private and public clients in the Supreme Judicial Court, Massachusetts Appeals Court, Land Court, and Superior Court.

Her practice encompasses many legal areas, including land use and zoning, real estate disputes, State and local permitting, the Wetlands Protection Act, local legislation, elections, public records law, and open meetings law. Lauren’s ability to navigate complex legal frameworks and dedication to achieving favorable outcomes make her a trusted advocate for her clients.

Lauren has been at the forefront of significant legal developments in Massachusetts. She co-counseled in the landmark case Bristol Asphalt Co., Inc. v. Rochester Bituminous Products, Inc., 493 Mass. 539 (2024), where the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) clarified and simplified the analytical framework for assessing anti-SLAPP motions under G.L.c. 231, §59H. This decision marked a pivotal shift in Massachusetts jurisprudence by eliminating cumbersome procedural tests and returning to a more straightforward framework aligned with legislative intent. Lauren’s contributions to the case were instrumental in securing a victory that benefited her client and provided clear guidance for courts and practitioners navigating anti-SLAPP litigation. Reflecting on the decision, Lauren emphasized its importance in protecting petitioning rights while ensuring streamlined litigation processes.

In addition to her work on Bristol, Lauren has successfully argued and won cases before the Supreme Judicial Court and the Appeals Court of Massachusetts. Her victories include setting critical precedents under the Wetlands Protection Act and securing favorable rulings in zoning disputes.

Before joining Verrill, Lauren was an associate at Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP, where she represented dozens of municipal and school clients on all matters of municipal law. While at Murphy Hesse, she served as the City Solicitor for Attleboro and the Town Counsel for Hanover. These roles allowed her to develop a deep understanding of municipal law and public-sector litigation.

Lauren’s legal foundation was built during her time at Emory University School of Law, where she served as managing editor of the Emory Bankruptcy Developments Journal. She gained valuable experience during law school through internships with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office and the DeKalb County Public Defender’s Office. Before law school, Lauren was a litigation paralegal at Hill & Barlow and Goulston & Storrs in Boston, where she developed foundational skills in case management and legal research.

At Verrill, Lauren continues to distinguish herself through her litigation successes and commitment to fostering client relationships and delivering exceptional legal service. Her work reflects Verrill’s decency, honesty, and judgment values while upholding the firm’s tradition of excellence in advocacy.